{
  "id": "2022-07-08-marshall-university-flash-flooding",
  "slug": "marshall-university-flash-flooding-2022-07-08",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Marshall University",
    "shortName": "Marshall",
    "state": "WV",
    "type": "public-r2",
    "alertSystemName": "MU Alert",
    "enrollment": 12000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2022-07-08",
    "type": "flooding",
    "cleryCategory": "advisory",
    "headline": "Heavy rain floods campus buildings, including a central academic hall; no injuries",
    "headlinePublic": "Heavy rain floods campus buildings, including a central academic hall; no injuries",
    "summary": "On July 8, 2022, heavy rains caused [widespread flooding on and around Marshall University's Huntington campus](https://www.marshall.edu/news/2022/07/widespread-flooding-on-huntington-campus/), putting many city roads under water and damaging campus buildings. The university's Physical Plant assessed damage, and [Smith Hall, a central academic building, sustained flooding](https://www.marshall.edu/news/2022/07/smith-hall-flooding-update/) that required cleanup. No injuries were reported.",
    "outcome": "Marshall's Physical Plant assessed and began cleaning up flood damage to campus buildings, including Smith Hall, while preparing for additional forecast rain. No injuries were reported.",
    "resolution": "confirmed-threat"
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "July 8, 2022, during the heavy rainfall and flash flooding",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "There is widespread flooding on and around campus due to heavy rains. Please use caution until waters recede. If you need emergency assistance, call MUPD at 304-696-4357 or 911.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.marshall.edu/news/2022/07/widespread-flooding-on-huntington-campus/",
      "sourceDescription": "Marshall University News official notice (the verbatim MU Alert flooding message posted to the campus community on July 8, 2022)",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim text of Marshall University's official July 8, 2022 flooding notice as published on the university's news/emergency-information channel and distributed via MU Alert.",
        "The message gives the MUPD emergency number (304-696-4357) and 911 rather than declaring an evacuation, consistent with an advisory-level hazard notice.",
        "CleryCategory is set to 'advisory' because flooding was a hazard/operational notice rather than an imminent active threat to life requiring an emergency notification."
      ],
      "characterCount": 177
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "follow-up",
      "timestampApprox": "July 8, 2022, after waters receded as cleanup began",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceDescription": "Reconstructed from Marshall University News updates on building damage assessment and Smith Hall flooding",
      "annotations": []
    }
  ],
  "context": "Marshall University sits in Huntington, West Virginia, beside the Ohio River and within a watershed prone to flash flooding (Eastern Time). On July 8, 2022, heavy rains produced [widespread flooding on and around the Huntington campus](https://www.marshall.edu/news/2022/07/widespread-flooding-on-huntington-campus/); the [Herald-Dispatch reported many city roads under water](https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/flash-flood-puts-many-roads-in-huntington-under-water/article_2ef7e2a2-db18-5463-9115-e17c334646f0.html). The university's Physical Plant assessed building damage and a separate [Smith Hall flooding update](https://www.marshall.edu/news/2022/07/smith-hall-flooding-update/) addressed cleanup at the central academic building. No injuries were reported. Flooding is a recurring concern for the campus; the university also resumed operations after flash flooding in August 2021. The initial notice here is the verbatim text published by Marshall University on July 8, 2022; the follow-up is an honest reconstruction consistent with the university's reporting.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Heavy rain on July 8, 2022 caused widespread flooding on and around Marshall's Huntington campus, putting many city roads under water",
    "The university's Physical Plant assessed damage and began cleaning affected buildings, including Smith Hall",
    "No injuries were reported, and the university warned of additional possible rain",
    "Flash flooding is a recurring hazard for the riverfront Huntington campus, treated here as a Clery advisory rather than an imminent-threat emergency notification"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Widespread Flooding on Huntington Campus - Marshall University News",
      "url": "https://www.marshall.edu/news/2022/07/widespread-flooding-on-huntington-campus/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Smith Hall Flooding Update - Marshall University News",
      "url": "https://www.marshall.edu/news/2022/07/smith-hall-flooding-update/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Flash flood puts many roads in Huntington under water - Herald-Dispatch",
      "url": "https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/flash-flood-puts-many-roads-in-huntington-under-water/article_2ef7e2a2-db18-5463-9115-e17c334646f0.html",
      "type": "local-media"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "flooding",
    "advisory",
    "west-virginia",
    "severe-weather",
    "campus-damage"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-28",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-05-28",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}